6 Restaurants in Charlotte Beloved by Locals

The Queen City is full of amazing places to eat. Whether you’re looking for Italian, Mexican, German, or anything else, Charlotte has options that are sure to please. We’ve assembled a list of six awesome restaurants you need to visit when you’re in town, don’t miss out on any of these great spots!

The servings are big, and the chicken is fantastic. The fish sandwiches are just as impressive if you’re looking for a change up. If you’ve got a big group of people and you love southern food (like delicious sweet tea and hushpuppies), you’ve found your restaurant.

Small plates, sushi, and handcrafted cocktails are the stars at Soul Gastrolounge. You’ll love the setting and the R&B/Soul music that plays every night after 10pm. Their Asian Glazed Pork Belly Tacos, Garlic Roasted Beef Bone Marrow, and Dirty South Nachos are all worth your order. And of course, there’s the beautiful Ramen pictured above.

4. Midwood Smokehouse

Our favorite BBQ joint in Charlotte, Midwood Smokehouse is deeply rooted in the BBQ traditions of the Carolinas. Whole hog, beef brisket, and other smoked meats are dry rubbed and slow cooked on NC hickory wood, culminating in a taste that you won’t be able to get enough of. Be sure you’ve got your schedule cleared for the rest of the day – we predict naps in your future.

3. Portofino’s Ristorante Italiano e Pizzeria

A photo posted by Portofino’s (@portofinosus) on Feb 17, 2016 at 6:15pm PST

This is the spot to come for Italian food in Charlotte. In particular, if you’re looking for a great slice of pizza, you have to visit Portofino’s. Their Florentina pizza comes with chicken, spinach, ricotta, pesto, and mozzarella, and it’s definitely a crowd pleaser. If seafood is your thing, you’ll have to order the Pescatora – it comes with shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, mozzarella and marinara sauce, all on a pizza. Heaven.

Waldhorn is a family-run German restaurant, offering over 40 beers and one of the best brunches in town. The Schweizerschnitzel and Sauerbraten are delicious, and the homemade Spatzle tops everything off. If you’re looking for a good German restaurant, this might be the best spot in North Carolina.

1. Good Food on Montford

Good Food on Montford is a trendy, tapas-style restaurant from award-winning Chef, Bruce Moffett. It was a James Beard semi-finalist in 2010 for best new restaurant, serving up dishes that are organic, local, and extremely creative. The Steamed Pork Bun is an absolute must, along with the Pork Carnitas and Korean Beef (served with crispy rice, scallion kimchi, and gochujang). They also have a great wine list, and if you’re a gin drinker you’ll love the Rosemary Collins.